Naruto sat on the log that he had rolled over looking into the flames. He was on night watch duty to keep away unwanted visitors. He was currently on a mission in the hidden sound village so they had to be on max alert. He looked over at Kakashi who had fallen asleep with his book in front of his face. Then, he looked over at Sakura; the moon was hitting her face in such a way that she looked even more beautiful than usual. His instincts told him to go over there, crawl under her blanket, and cuddle up with her; but of course he knew that was an impossitibility. So he just turned back around and looked into the flames. He had insisted that he take watch duty the whole since he currently couldn't sleep anyway. For the last couple weeks he had having the same dream, Sakura being killed. Sakura had even asked him out on a date but he had declined, it would just hurt him. He knew that he could never be with Sakura; it would just make her a target of Akatsuki and Sasuke's new organization, Snake. He was getting bored just sitting there, so he made a couple kage bushin to watch and walked off into the forest. He walked up the tallest tree he could find and sat on a branch. He reached in his kunai pouch for his old picture of him and Sakura that they took together when they were 14. In the picture Sakura had her arm around Naruto and her gorgeous smile was up at the camera, Naruto also had his arm around Sakura. A tear ran down his cheek and splashed on Sakura's face. He wanted her so badly but yet he could not let her get in the path of his dangers. He kept crying until a firm hand rested on his shoulder. "Evening Naruto-kun." Naruto didn't even need to look behind him.

"What do you want Sakura-chan?" She reached down and grabbed the picture from his grasp; she looked it over for a second and dropped it on his lap before sitting down next to him.

"If you want this so bad, why don't you let it happen?" Naruto tried to look away from those beautiful eyes; it would hurt him to look into them. "Why don't you wanna date me Naruto, is it because I was a bitch?! I'll take it all back; I'll be nice to you if you just give me a chance Naruto!" Naruto looked up into the slightly cloudy sky as if deciding how to respond.

"I'm sorry Sakura, I have too many enemies, and I won't be able to live thinking that you're always in danger. Besides, I'll stop at nothing to bring back Sasuke, and then you can have your happy ever after." Not once did Naruto look back at Sakura, but he knew that a silent tear drop was rolling down her cheek. Naruto saw the first crack of the sun come of the horizon in a beautiful red glow.

"Naruto, I don't wanna seem too harsh, but Sasuke isn't part of our lives anymore. Don't you remember the last time we saw him." Of course Naruto remembered everything from that day.

One Year ago in a small town near the leaf village

Naruto and Sakura just stared at the Uchiha and he stared back at them with a blank expression. By his side stood two of the members in his organization, Kane Motagoshki, a missing Nin form the waterfall village and Baki, Gaara's old sensei and betrayer of the sand village. "You two sicken me, to think that I used to find it fun to be on a team with the likes of you." Sasuke spat at the ground. "Naruto, I hear from my leaf village source that you're being thought of to become the sixth hokage. That's good, because as you know, my organization snake's purpose is to leave nothing left of the rat hole of a village. I can't wait to see what you go through when I destroy your precious village." Naruto last heard that from Orochimaru. "Wow, it seems you've gotten more from Orochimaru than unique jutsu." Sasuke just smirked and turned around. "Well Naruto, love to stay and chat, but I have important things to do." And before Naruto could fit another word, he had run off.

Naruto was snapped out of his little flashback when Sakura started talking again. "Naruto, I'm not weak anymore, I can defend myself. Please Naruto, can't you at least give me a try, I'll train with you everyday so they can't hurt me and if you still think it won't work we'll end it right there."

"Fine Sakura, but promise me that you will not follow me into any battles, I would rather have myself die than you." He turned and put an arm around Sakura's shoulders, "do we have a deal?"

"You got it Naruto-kun," she rested her head on Naruto's shoulder and they quietly watched the sunrise."

Miles away from there

Sasuke quietly ran down the seldom used path through the forest with his partners. Like Akatsuki, Snake worked in teams, but unlike Akatsuki, their teams were made up of three ninja other than two. Baki and Kane were on either side of Sasuke, they were heading to the most important moment of Sasuke's life. The other team of Snake was made up of Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo. Sasuke's team was now headed to kill Kisame and Itachi. Sasuke had given his teammates orders to fight Kisame while he took on Itachi himself. The other team of Snake thought this was foolish, if Sasuke were to finish these two ninja, Akatsuki would send every available ninja they had to wipe Snake out completely. But Sasuke wouldn't listen to them, he had a one track mind and that track was set on killing Itachi. He knew that they had to make contact with them in fifteen minutes or less before they could make it to the Akatsuki hideout. This was it, the moment that Sasuke had been waiting for his entire life. "Baki watch it!" Baki ducked just in time to dodge Kisame's sword that would have taken his head clear off. Sasuke looked back to see Itachi hanging upside down from a tree.

"Foolish little brother, what brings you so close to Akatsuki territory."

"I'm going to kill you right here and now, I've become a lot stronger. Besides your outnumbered 2 to 3." Sasuke had small smirk at the thought that this would be pretty easy.

"Are you sure of this brother?" Sasuke looked around into the trees; six more people wearing robes of Akatsuki were staring down at him. Sasuke realized them to be Pain, the member of their organization that had six different bodies.

Sasuke had to admit defeat; fighting would lead to nothing but death. "I see, maybe we shall meet again another day, some day where your colleagues won't be here." As Sasuke passed Itachi he saw that look in his eyes, the look that meant he was looking forward to that day.

Back to Naruto and Sakura

Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi walked down the dirt road nearing the leaf village. Kakashi had the scroll they needed for their mission in his backpack and had his book out reading. Naruto walked back to where Sakura was walking behind Kakashi to where Sakura was walking and offered out his hand, she looked up at him and gently placed her hand on his. They made sure they walked far enough behind Kakashi so he couldn't see them so close to each other. Naruto had pulled her in closer and her head on his shoulder. But they didn't know that Kakashi had pulled his mask down and was watching their every move with his Sharingan.

"Wow, this is better then my book, well, maybe not that good." And a small grin was then hidden under his mask.

Author's Note

I hope you like it so far, I am a huge fan of your reviews so plz review and I will reply. If you have any suggestions, tell me and I'll try to fit them in, plus read my other story as well. It is called, Dreams Come True. Who loves ya? Me!!!! NarutoxSakura 4 life!

P.S. Unfortunately, I don't own Naruto but if I did I would be frickin loaded!

Next Chapter: The first kiss!!